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res4n8nce's review against another edition
4.0
never would I HAVE EVER expected such a good read from a book titled 'soy sauce for beginners' it taught me a lot about Singaporean culture. It was a fast and easy read!
jelundberg's review against another edition
4.0
A fast and light read, with an abiding love for both Singapore and San Francisco. Chen's evocation of late 20s / early 30s life changes, and the struggles between one's own desires and the responsibility toward family are spot-on and poignant. The interweaving narratives of Gretchen Lin's marital upheaval in the USA and the fortunes of her family's soy sauce business in SG are well-balanced, and her sensory descriptions of the titular sauce make me wish I could taste it right now.
miszjeanie's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fantastic introduction to the work of Kirstin Chen especially as I await her second novel. Gretchen, thirty and separated from her husband after he cheats on her with an undergrad student, moves back home to Singapore. Her family is in the soy sauce manufacturing business and she attempts to join the family business while in Singapore. However, as it is with family, there’s a good amount of drama which mixed in with her personal drama is enough to incite a near midlife crisis.
I really enjoyed learning about soy sauce in a completely not boring manner. Also, as happens with stories about Asian families, I’ve also learned a little about the customs and way of life. Singapore has effectively been added to my “to-visit” list! More than that, Chen writes beautifully about the struggle to find one’s place in the world, identity and the balance between these and pleasing parents.
Soy Sauce for Beginners is packed with drama, astute observations about life and a fascinating bunch of characters. It makes for a great page turner!
I really enjoyed learning about soy sauce in a completely not boring manner. Also, as happens with stories about Asian families, I’ve also learned a little about the customs and way of life. Singapore has effectively been added to my “to-visit” list! More than that, Chen writes beautifully about the struggle to find one’s place in the world, identity and the balance between these and pleasing parents.
Soy Sauce for Beginners is packed with drama, astute observations about life and a fascinating bunch of characters. It makes for a great page turner!
mpdarby's review against another edition
3.0
A simple yet charming read. The characters other than the main one were a bit static but overall it was an entertaining read.
gimchi's review against another edition
3.0
once started, an easy, quick & enjoyable read. a 30-something woman finding her home and calling after a messy break up and divorce. enjoyable and relatable for the fact that the main character was asian with near ties to her heritage, yet grew up in america; this isn't something i come across very often (as a first generation asian american).
main character is slightly cloying in her blindness and resolve to run herself into the ground, but it's still pretty real and believable.
like other readers, must find and try artisanal soy sauce, maybe even paired with sprite.
main character is slightly cloying in her blindness and resolve to run herself into the ground, but it's still pretty real and believable.
like other readers, must find and try artisanal soy sauce, maybe even paired with sprite.
iamliterate's review against another edition
3.0
I loved the writer's details of both Singapore and San Francisco, the family ties, the corporate drama. The only thing that kept me from loving this book was the protagonist. Her surliness and naivete were hard to read and sympathize with.
toyaalex's review against another edition
3.0
Got this on Amazon because it was on Kindle unlimited and the cover looked nice. If I didn't listen to the audio of the book I prob wouldn't have finished it.
nakedsushi's review against another edition
3.0
A decent vacation read set in Singapore. Much more enjoyable than the last book I read set in that country. Very predictable but a fun read.
shuzhens's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this, Gretchen is far from perfect but very real. Some of the themes resonated - adjusting to home after a long absence, and realizing that your parents are not young any more, for example.